hink the bishop will send for me again," he said, as she
tucked the clothes around him.

CHAPTER XIX

Where Did It Come From?

When Christmas morning came no emissary from the bishop appeared at
Hogglestock to interfere with the ordinary performance of the day's
services. "I think we need fear no further disturbance," Mr. Crawley
said to his wife,--and there was no further disturbance.

On the day after his walk from Framley to Barchester, and from
Barchester back to Hogglestock, Mr. Crawley had risen not much the
worse for his labour, and had gradually given to his wife a full
account of what had taken place. "A poor weak man," he said, speaking
of the bishop. "A poor weak creature, and much to be pitied."

"I have always heard that she is a violent woman."

"Very violent, and very ignorant; and most intrusive withal."

"And you did not answer her a word?"

"At last my forbearance with her broke down, and I bade her mind her
distaff."

"What;--really? Did you say those words to her?"

"Nay; as for my exact words I cannot remember them. I was thinking
more of the words with which it might be fitting that I should answer
the bishop. But I certainly told her that she had better mind her
distaff."

"And how did she behave then?"

"I did not wait to see. The bishop had spoken, and I had replied; and
why should I tarry to behold the woman's violence? I had told him
that he was wrong in law, and that I at least would not submit to
usurped authority. There was nothing to keep me longer, and so I went
without much ceremony of leave-taking. There had been little ceremony
of greeting on their part, and there was less in the making of adieux
on mine. They had told me that I was a thief--"

"No, Josiah,--surely not so? They did not use that very word?"

"I say they did;--they did use the very word. But stop. I am wrong.
I wrong his lordship, and I crave pardon for having done so. If my
memory serve me, no expression so harsh escaped from the bishop's
mouth. He gave me, indeed, to understand more than once that the
action taken by the magistrates was tantamount to a conviction,
and that I must be guilty because they had decided that there was
evidence sufficient to justify a trial. But all that arose from my
lord's ignorance of the administration of the laws of his country.
He was very ignorant,--puzzle-pated, as you may call it,--led by the
nose by his wife, weak as water, timid and vacillating. But he did